The iMotor series, including the iBE, iSM and all related iMotor accessories, were obsoleted July 31st, 2008. Sales Discontinuation Notice SD805 on the Parker extranet gives more details on iMotor obsolescence.
This FAQ gives some options for iMotor replacement. There is no direct replacement for the iBE series of integrated servomotor/drive/controllers. The suggested upgrade path is to use the IPA drive/controller with a BE motor and PS cables. The closest equivalent IPA drive/controller and BE motor model number combinations are listed in the table below. As with all replacement situations, the application requirements will need to be carefully reviewed to determine the most suitable replacement product.
Suggested iBE Replacement Options
| P/N | Description | Suggested Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| IBE230F-NN | Size 23, 1/2 stack, 2000 line encoder, integral drive/controller | BE230DJ-NPSN with IPA04-HC * |
| IBE231F-NN | Size 23, 1 stack, 2000 line encoder, integral drive/controller | BE231DJ-NPSN with IPA04-HC * |
| IBE232F-NN | Size 23, 2 stack, 2000 line encoder, integral drive/controller | BE232FJ-NPSN with IPA04-HC * |
| IBE233F-NN | Size 23, 3 stack, 2000 line encoder, integral drive/controller | BE233FJ-NPSN with IPA04-HC * |
| IBE341_-NN | Size 34, 1 stack, 2000 line encoder, integral drive/controller | BE341GJ-NPSN with IPA04-HC * |
| IBE342_-NN | Size 34, 2 stack, 2000 line encoder, integral drive/controller | BE342HJ-NPSN with IPA04-HC * |
| IBE343_-NN | Size 34, 3 stack, 2000 line encoder, integral drive/controller | BE343JJ-NPSN with IPA04-HC * |
| IBE344_-NN | Size 34, 4 stack, 2000 line encoder, integral drive/controller | BE344JJ-NPSN with IPA04-HC * |
| * Also requires F-1A1-XX and P-1A1-XX cables |
iBE Accessories and Suggested Replacements
| Accessories | Description | Current Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| PS500W120-48-SHNT | 500 watt, 120VAC in, 48VDC out, 10A power supply w/ 100W shunt | Not required |
| PS500W240-48-SHNT | 500 watt, 240VAC in, 48VDC out, 10A power supply w/ 100W shunt | Not required |
| PS1000W120-48-SHNT | 1000 watt, 120VAC in, 48VDC out, 10A power supply w/ 100W shunt | Not required |
| PS1000W240-48-SHNT | 1000 watt, 240VAC in, 48VDC out, 10A power supply w/ 100W shunt | Not required |
| ISHUNT | 100W shunt w/ bracket and mounting hardware | Not required |
| 71-020710-05 | Power/communications cable, flying leads, 5ft | Not required |
| 71-020710-10 | Power/communications cable, flying leads, 10ft | Not required |
| 71-020711-05 | 15 pin I/O cable, flying leads, 5ft | VM25-MC-02 |
| 71-020711-10 | 15 pin I/O cable, flying leads, 10ft | VM25-MC-02 |
| 71-020911-15 | 15 pin I/O cable, isolated 24VDC, 15ft | VM25-MC-02 |
| 71-025161-15 | 15 pin I/O cable, isolated 24VDC, pin G input 15ft | VM25-MC-02 |
| 71-025162-15 | 15 pin I/O cable, isolated 24VDC, pin G output 15ft | VM25-MC-02 |
| VM15 | 15 pin breakout board, includes 2ft shielded cable | VM25-MC-02 |
| ICONN-KIT | Mating iBE pins and connectors | N/A |
Some of the advantages of upgrading to the IPA and BE servo motor are given below.
Better Performance
The IPA is a digital, sinusoidally commutated drive versus the iBE, which was a trapezoidally commutated drive. The IPA will give smoother motion with much less torque ripple than the iBE.
More Torque
The integrated design limits the performance of the motor due to heat dissipation limitations. Motor and drive waste heat have to be dissipated from the motor's mounting surface. This limits the overall amount of torque that the integrated combination can produce. The equivalent BE motor paired with the IPA is capable of producing 50-200% more torque than the comparable iBE. The more efficient thermal dissipation, along with the more powerful drive, allows most applications to use a shorter BE motor with the IPA.
Higher Reliability
The IPA drive/controller is a full-fledged standalone product which has a much lower field failure rate than the iBE series. In addition to the better reliability, the IPA is easier to replace in the event that it does fail since it is not mounted in the tight spaces where motors are often placed.
24V I/O
Rather than relying on a separate 5-24V converter cable, the IPA drive/controller accepts 5-24V I/O directly by providing both legs of the I/O to the user.
Upgrade Your Application
The IPA drive/controller is a much more capable motion control platform than the iBE series with gearing (also known as following), camming, multitasking, additional processing power, robust Ethernet communications, Add-On Instructions to help it integrate with Rockwell PLCs, VB/VB.NET/VC++/C# libraries, expansion I/O options and more. For users who would like to push their application beyond the capability of the iBE, the IPA drive/controller paired with a BE motor is an excellent upgrade path.
Users who would like to migrate to the IPA and BE can get more information by contacting their local Parker Electromechanical and Drives distributor. Users who are not in contact with a distributor can contact the Parker Electromechanical and Drives Applications Department using the contact information below.
Phone: 707-584-7558
Email: emn.service@support.parker.com
You can view the specifications for the IPA drive/controller and BE motor clicking the images below.
JE 02/15/13
UPDATED 19DEC2016 DC